overman



4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

B. OVERMAN.

SKYLIGHT.

Nou326 056.

I .aFH v A. L m R (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3f B. OV'E-RMAN.

SKYLIGHT. No. 326,056. Patented Sept. 8, 1885.

5. 3 improved skyllght or roof-light; and to this NiTEl) STATES PATENT OFFICE;

BERNARD ovRR AN, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or coLUMBIA, ssIeNoR TO HIMSELF AND RREN M. WHYTE, or SAME PLACE.

SKYLIGHT.

SPECIFICA TION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,056, dated September 8, 1885.

Application filed m a, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNARD OVERMAN, of Washington,in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skylights; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a view, in perspective, of a portion of a light made in accordance with my invention, a part being brokenaway to show the frame beneath;

Fig. 2, a tranverse vertical sectional view showing the constructisn of my light when used with a ventilator; Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view of the light shown in Fig. 1 on lineaczr of such figure; Fig. 4, a-plan view of a portion of the light with the covering-bars removed; Fig. 5, a transverse sectional view of a shown in Fig. 1 on line 3 y of such figure, showing the construction of the supporting and holding bars; Fig. 6, a detail view of one of the covering and holding bars removed; Fig. 7, a detail perspective view of a portion of the ridge-bar with the lower shed-plate removed therefrom, as when the glass is to be inserted 'in place; Fig. 8, a detail sectional view of one of the cross-bars used by mewhere more than one glass is used, and Fig. 9 a detail sectional view showing the manner of joining these bars to the longitudinal supporting ones.

Letters of like name and kind parts in each of the figures.

The object of my invention is to provide an refer to like end myinvention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as

hereinafter specified.

In the drawings, A designates the ridge bar, which, where no ventilatorisdesired,

consists, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, of two similarly-shaped longitudinal halves, formed of sheet metal, preferably galvanized iron,-

having their inner faces soldered or otherwise joined together to form a single bar. Each of such halves,as seen in cross-section,consists of the bottom vertical portion,A, the horizontal outwardly-extending portion A the upwardly and outwardly extending portion A and the upwardly and inwardly extending portion the downwardly-bent portion at portion of the light 'A inclined at the angle of the glass to be held inthe light-frame. This inclined portion extends inward to a pointabove the bottom vertical part, A. From this point the plate forming the bar half is carried up vertically in the same plane with part A, and is then bent over outward and downward close to the upper vertical part just described. The plate is then bent outward and downward parallel to and above the part A. At its extreme outward edge the plate is turned under, as shown, so as not to expose a sharp edge. upright part of the plate I designateby A its top At",

The upper,

and the outwardly and downwardly inclined part by A. The part A of one plate is made more extensive on one half of the bar than on L the other, so that itcan be bent over to inclose the lower edge thereof, as shown best in Fig. 7. The upright portions A and A are preferably soldered together, but can be fastened in any desired way. The ridge-bar thus formed with the wide hollow part near its lower edge, and the two upright webs, is very strong while being very light.

To cover over the line ofjunctionof the upuse the inverted-U-shaped cap B. v

The downwardly-extending parts A A of the bar halves are parallel to and at such distance from the upright parts A A as to leave 'just space enough for one thickness of the metal used. This is fora purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

The base-frame or base crossbar, ,0, of ,my light-frame, which rests and is supported upon 'right portion A A of the two bar halves, I 1

the curb D, is, like the ridge-bar described,

made of sheet metal, preferablyggalvanized iron. It is formed with the horizontal portion 0 adapted to rest on top of the curb, and having its inner edge bent upward, as shown at O and the vertical downwardly-extending 3 portion C adapted to rest against the side of the curb. From the lower edge of. this part G the plate of which the bar is formed is bent horizontally outward," and then upward, a

to form a trough, E.

The horizontal part (3*, which forms the bot- Ioo tom of thegutter, is provided with a number of holes, 0.

The upwardly-extending portion 0 of the Y plate, which forms the outside of the gutter or trough E, is preferably inclined outward, not vertical. From the upper edge of this portion 0 the plate is bent downward against the inner side of said portion for a short distance, then inward and slightly upward, to form the ledge C, having the angle of the lower face of the sheet of glass in the light, and situated at such height that the lower edge of the glass will be supported upon it, so as to leave a space between the glass and the outer edge of the portion of the frame resting upon the curb. From the inner edge of this ledge the plate is bent downward again at a right angle to the plane of the ledge.

The outer side, 0 of the trough is inclined out-ward, so as to be at a right angle to the glass to be placed in the light-frame, and the ledge is at right angles to such side. The lower edge of the glass used will then rest squarely against the downward bend of the plate above the ledge, and the lower end of the glass will rest squarely on the ledge.

The upper ends of the longitudinal supporting frame-bars F F are soldered to the lower inclined sides of the hollow portion of the ridgebar, as shown, and at their lower ends to the base-frames or base cross-bars, as hereinafter to be described. Each bar F consists,

essentially, as shown, of the main portion. F,

Ushaped in crosssection, and having its upper edges turned outward to form the flanges ff, and the longitudinal trough F within the main portion F having its upper edges turned outward to form flanges atff, resting upon the outwardly-extending flanges f f of the main part F. The outer edges of flangesff are turned inward over the edges of flanges f f, so as to clasp and hold the same firmly,

and can, if desired, be soldered to them.

Through each bar F, below trough F, extends the T-iron bar F, having its bottom resting upon the bottom of part F, and its top bearing up against the bottom of trough F. This T-bar, as arranged, serves to make the bars F F very stiff and strong without increasing their weight objectionably.

Along the upper face of each of the flanges ff of the trough part F of each bar F, Iprefer to place a rubber strip, f", held in place by the overturned edge of the flange f of the part F, clamping its outer edge down against the flange of the trough. These strips can be formed in any desired way; but I prefer to make them of a flat strip with another strip doubled over one edge thereof and fastened by sewing or 'in any other suitable way. The edge of the first strip is what is clamped and held to the bar, as described above.

The sheets of glass G G, when placed in the frame, rest at their sides upon and compress the rubber strips on the bars, as shown in the drawings, and when such sheets of glass are forced and held down, as hereinafter described, they will so compress these strips as to effectually prevent any water getting from the edge of the glass in between the under side of the glass and the supporting-bar. By the use of these strips I avoid the necessity of using any putty or cement, either of which is liable to deterioration and injury by the expansion and contraction of the frame and glass therein.

As shown, the sheets of glass G G are to be of such width as to extend at their sides a little beyond the inner sides of the troughsF in the bars F F, though it is sufficient if they extend to the planes of such inner sides of the troughs.

To hold the sheets of glassin their proper relative positions and prevent sidewise move ment of the same, I employ the braces G G, made of sheet metal. Each brace is formed by bending the piece of metal up at each side to form the upright portions g 9, adapted to engage the sides or edges of adjacent pieces of glass, so as to keep them apart, and then bending it over and outward at a right angle to form the arms 9 9, adapted to engage the upper sides of the sheets of glass, as shown best in Figs. 4 and 5. The main or lower portion of each brace is provided with an opening, 9 up through which passes the bolt H, extending upward from the bar F. This bolt then prevents any movement of the brace, so that the adjoining sheets of glass are not only duly kept apart by the braces, but are held from any sidewise movement by them.

The bolts H H, of which there can be any desired number for each supporting-bar F, have heads at their lower ends engaging and fastened by solder or otherwise to the bottom of the trough part F of the bar.

To engage the upper sides of the sheets of glass and hold them down in place on bars F F, I provide above each of such bars the capbar I, inverted-U shape in cross-section, and having along its sides the outwardly-extending flanges I I. The bolts H H pass up through such cap-bars and through the inverted-U-shaped metal clipsK K, placed over the cap-bars. Upon the upper ends of the bolts are nuts h h, screwed down upon such clips. With this construction there is no danger of the cap-bars being caused to spread as the nuts are tightened down in place to force their lower edges down upon the sheets of glass.

All the downward pressure of the nuts is taken by the clips, which are made strong enough to stand it, and properly applied to hold the cap-bar down in place, the flanges thereof being forced and held down by the lower edges of the clips resting directly upon them, as shown in the drawings.

Before the cap-bars are put on the shield or guard L for the upper edges of the sheets of glass is put in place. This shield, which is adapted to extend across the frame, has the upright portion L, adapted to have its upper edge slid up and held in the narrow space between the parts A and A of the ridge-bar, already described, and the outwardly and downwardly extending part L, having its outer edge bent down so as to rest upon the sheets of glass well out from their upper edges. No soldering or other. fasteningof this shield to the ridge-bar is used. It can then, when the cap-bars are removed, be readily and quickly inserted in and removed from its place.

The upper ends of the cap bars are cut away, as shown, on their under sides, so as to extend up or pass over the portion L of the shield and under the shield of the ridgebar. The upper ends of the flanges of the cap-bars at the lower ends of these cuts are cut at an angle, so that the upper and outer corners thereof can be thrust slightly under the edge of the shield as the cap-bars are put in place. The lower ends of the bars F F are cut away underneath at their lower ends parallel to the horizontal portion of the base frame or bar which'rests upon the curb, and are soldered to such portion of the base-frame. The flanges at the sides of the bars can be continued across the trough of the base-frame and soldered to the glass-supporting ledge.

The bottom of the trough portion of each bar F extends down to the edge of the trough of the base-frame, so as to conduct and discharge into it any moisture that may get in under the flanges of the cap-bars and between them and the upper surfaces of the sheets of glass.

As there is, as described, free space between the sheets of glass and the outer edge of the horizontal attaching portion ofthe base-frame, any moisture condensing upon the under faces of the glass sheets can run freely down and fall into the trough or gutter portion of the base-frame and then out through the openings in the bottom of such trough onto the roof beyond the curb.

Where the light is quite large it is sometimes desired and best that the glass used for each panel shall not be in one long sheet. Where the glass is to be thus divided I provide the cross-bar M. (Best shown in section in Fig. 8.) This bar is exactly similar in con struction to the bars F F, except that it has no T-bar within it, as there is no need of such strengthening device with it. It is set at an angle to the bars F F, and at its ends is sol dered to such bars, the sides of the latter and l the troughs within them being cut away'so as to put the trough part of bar M in direct communication with their troughs.

As the cross-bar is set at an angle, with one end lower than the other, any water collecting in its trough will be conducted to one side and discharged into the trough of the bar to which the lower end of the cross-bar is fastened. The side of the bar F to which the upper end of the cross-bar is fastened obviously need not be cut away at all.

The adjacent edges of the lower and upper ends of the sections of glass are cut at such an angle as to bring the line of division between them over the center of the trough in bar M. Between such adjacent edgesI place a clip, N, formed of the upright portion N between the sections of glass, the portion N turned down over the upper portion of the=lower glass section, the part N bent up against the lower portion of part N, and the part N 4 bent at a right angle to part N and extending a short distance up along the under side of the upper glass section. With this construction the water running down over the glass will flow over the clip and downward over the lower sheet. If any should find its way down between the lower edge of the upper glass sec-t tion and the clip, it will be caught inthe trough of the bar M and be conducted off into the y trough of the bar F, and so out onto the roofbeyond the curb, in the manner described herein before. The upturned flange or rim along the inner edge of the horizontal portion of the baseframe which rests on the curb is made higher than the outer side of the trough or gutter of such frame, so that no watercould possibly overflow and get inward from the trough over the curb and such flange.

The upper edge ofv the flange or rim comes just below the bars F V F, as shown.

Where a ventilator is desired with the light, 7

I arrange and construct the same as shown in Fig. 2.

fastened together, but are separatedto form In such case the two halves of they ridge-bar, already herein described, are not the sides of ventilator-opening frame. The ends of such frame are formed of similar halves of the same form of ridge-bar, fastened at their ends to the sides above described to form with them a rectangular frame. 7 shields or sheds, AA, of the four sides of the frame thus formed rests the lower edge of the ventilator-cap P, made,like the parts of the light-frame described, of sheetmetal, preferably galvanized iron. Such cap consists of the vertical lower portion, P, resting on and fastened to the shed or shield plates of the ridge bar halves. This vertical lower portion extends up above the level of the tops of the ridge-bar halves. From the top of this upright portion the sides and ends of the ventilatorcap extend downward and outward, then up Upon the upper ward and outward, then downward and outward, then upward and outward, and, finally,

inward and upward, to form the roof or topof the cap.

In the lower upwardly and outwardly in} clined portion 15 of the cap sides and ends are several openingspp, for admitting air. To prevent any water or rain blown in through these openings from passing or falling down through.

the ventilator-openings in the light-frame, .1 provide the guard 1?, corresponding in shape with the bottom portion of the ventilator-cap,

and soldered orv otherwise fastened therein..

This guard extends up above the level of the openingsp p and has around its top the horizontally outwardly-extendingflange or lip P water blown in through.

frame and the distancepieces between the sheets of glass, as well as the ventilatorde limit myself to any particular metal or material.

The strengthening T-bars within the longitudinal bars F F are preferably of iron, but not necessarily so. The arched or inverted-U-shaped clips K K, I prefer to make of brass or other similar alloy, so that they will not corrode. The bolts and nuts used can also be of like material.

Instead of rubber for the packing-strips, I

can, if desired, use some other elastic or semi elastic material.

If desired, putty or cement can be used instead of such strips; but I prefer the strips for the reason indicated hereinbefore.

With my light constructed as shown and described Iavoid the necessity of using putty and cement, and secure at the same time a most light and strong frame which can be easily and quickly put up or taken apart again, as desired. Moisture cannot easily get in through its joints, and if it does is caught and carried off thoroughly and completely.

The flanges of the supporting-bars F F are preferably at their upper ends continued up and soldered upon the inclined ledge or supporting-surface on the ridgebar, as shown best in Fig. 1.

Where the ventilator is desired, as hereinbefore described, the lower portions" of the ridge-bar halves forming the frame for the opening are bent vertically upward, as shown in Fig. 2, instead of extending downward, as they do where the ventilator is not desired and the halves are fastened together to form a single ridge-bar.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a glass-supporting bar for skylights, the combination of the concave outer portion having its edges turned outward, and the single longitudinal gutter therein having its edges turned outward and resting upon the edges of the main portion, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

'2. In combination with the longitudinal gutter having its edges turned outward, the concave bar inclosing the same, having its edges turned outward and then inward over the edges of the gutter, and elastic strips placed longitudinally upon the upper sides of the edges of the gutter and held in place thereon by the inturned edges of the concave bar, substantially as and for the purpose described.

bar and the upper faces of the gutter edges,

substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In combination with the concave inclosing-bar, the longitudinal gutter having its upper edges fastened to the bar, and the T- shaped bar placed below the gutter and resting on the bottom of the concave inclosingbar, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The glass-supporting bar forlight-frames, consisting of the gutter having its upper edges turned outward, the concave bar inclosing such gutter, havingflits upper edges turned outward to receive and support the edges of the gutter and then inward over such gutter edges, and a T-bar placed longitudinally within the concave inclosing-bar under the gutter, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. The glass-supporting bar for 1i ght-frames, consisting of the longitudinal interior gutter, the external concave bar inclosing and fastened to the same, provided with suitable bolts for fastening down the cap-bar of the frame, fastened at their lower ends to the bottom of the interior gutter, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. As a means for supporting and holding the adjacent edges of the sheets of glass in a light, the supporting-bar having the interior longitudinal gutter, the bolts passing up through the bottom of the gutter,having heads on their lower ends engaging the under side of the gutter-bottom, the concave cap -bar through which the upper ends of the bolts pass, and nuts on such upper ends of the bolts,substantially as and for the purpose de- I scribed.

8. In a roof or other light, in combination with a supporting-bar adapted to receive and support adjacent sides of sheets .of glass, the

concave or arched cap-bar adapted to rest at its lower edges upon the sheets of glass, arched clips embracing the arched portion of the capbar and supported on both sides independently of such arched portion, the bolts at their lower ends fastened to the supporting-bar extending up through the cap-bar and clips, and

the nuts on the bolts, substantially as and for r the purpose described.

9. In a roof or other light, in combination with a supporting-bar, an arched or concave cap-bar above the same,having its lower edges turned outward to rest upon the glass, arched clips embracing the cap-bar and at their lower ends resting upon the out-turned edges of the bar, and suitable bolts passing from the supporting-bar up through the cap-bar and clips, and provided with nuts engaging the tops of the clips, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. The arched cap-bar for roof or other lights, in combination with the clips K K,

embracing the entire arch of the bar and supported at each side at their lower ends, and means for fastening and holding the clips in IIO place, substantially as and for the purpose described. a

11. In combination with the cap-bar, the arched clips resting at each side upon the outturned edges of the bar, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. In a roof or other light, as a means for keeping the sides of adjacent sheets in proper relative positions, distance-pieces placed between the sheets, each engaging the opposing edges of both adjacent sheets, substantially as and for the purpose described. a

l3.- Ina roof or other light, in combination with the supporting-bars and the sheets of glass supported thereon, one or more braces, G G, placed between the sides of adjacent: sheets of glass, substantially as andv for the purpose described. p r

14. In combination with a supporting-bar adapted to support the sides of adjacent sheets of glass, the metal distance-pieces betweenthe sheets of glass, having at their sides upright portions adapted to engage the sides of the sheets of glass, and the outwardly-extending lips at the tops of such sides extending over the upper sides of the glass sheets, substantially as and for the purpose described.

15. In combination with the supporting-bar and the adjacent sheets of glass supported at their sides thereon, the metal braces or distance-pieces adapted to engage the sides of the sheets of glass and keep them apart, and the cap-bar fastening-bolts extending from the supporting-bar passing up through such distance-pieces to hold them from moving, substantially as and for the purpose described.

16. The base-frame for a roof or other light,

having the portion adapted to be supported.

upon the curb, and the gutter having its outer side at a point below the inner edge of the curb portion bent downward and then inward at a right angle-to form a ledge for the lower end of the sheets of glass, adapted to support the glass at such a height as to clear the curbengaging part of the base-frame, substantially as and for the purpose described.

17. The base-frame consisting of the part adapted to rest upon the curb, having its inner edge turned up, the downwardly-extending portion adapted to engage the side of the curb, the outwardly-extending part forming the bottom of the gutter provided with openings,the upwardly-extending portion forming the outer side of the gutter, having its upper edge lower than the upturned inner edge of the curb portion, the downwardly-bent part resting against the inner side of the outer gutter-wall, and the inwardly-turned part adapted to form a ledge having its inner edge turned downward, substantially as and for the purpose described.

18. In combination with the base-frame provided with a gutter outside of the curb, one or more supporting-bars having longitudinal internal gutters, and so attached to the baseframe as to bring their gutters into communication with the gutter in the base-frame, substantially as and for the purpose described.

19. In combination with the base frame having the gutter beyond the curb, and havting on the outer side of the gutter the glass supporting ledge, one or more supporting-bars for the sides of the sheets of glass to be used, having the longitudinal outturned lips or flanges at their sides, said bars being attached at their lower endsto the base-frame above the curb, and having their side lips or flanges extending across the gutter in theframe and outer side of the same, substantially as and for the purpose described. j i

20. The ridge-bar provided with a surface adapted to support the upper ends of the sheets of glass of a roof orother light, a shield or shed above the same,'and a socket adapted to receive and hold the upper edge of a supplemental shield adapted to rest at its stantially as and for the purpose described.

ing the shield or shed near its top, and a longitudinal and vertical socket, the supplemental shield having the upright portion adapted to be inserted at its upper edge into the socket in the ridge-bar, and having the outwardly and downwardly extending portion, substantially as and for the purpose described.

22. The ridge-bar formedof the two similarly'shaped halves of sheet metal, each half consisting of the plate having its lower portion vertical, then being bent outward, then upward and outward, then upward and inward, then upward in the same plane with the lower upright portion, then downward parallel to the upper upright portion, and then outward, and havingtheir upright portions fastened together, substantially as and for the purpose described.

23. Theridge-bar consisting of the bottom vertical web, the expanded hollow portion above such web, the vertical web above this hollow portion, and the plates bent downward at each side from the top of this web and then outward to form shields or sheds, substantially as and for the purpose described.

24. The sheet-metal ridge-bar formed of the two sheets of metal, having the upright lower portions fastened together, thence being bent outwardand then upward at an angle, then inward to form a supportingledge for the glass sheets, then upward vertically, and having such vertical portions fastened together, and then downward vertically, and, finally, outward and downward, as shown and described.

25. In combination with theridge-barformed of two similar halves of sheet metal fastened together, the longitudinal cap fitting over and covering the upper edge of the bar, substantially as and for the purpose described.

26. In a frame for root and other lights, in combination with the supporting-bars for the supporting the adjacent ends of glass sections fastened at its ends to the bars at such an angle that one end is lower than the other, substantially as and for the purpose described.

lower edge upon the glass in the frame, sub- .21. In combination with the ridge-bar havsides of the sheets of glass, the cross-bar for attached to the upper side of the ledge on the 27. In a frame for roof and other lights, in combination with the supporting-bars for the sides of the sheets of glass, provided with longitudinal gutters, the inclined cross-bar also having a longitudinal gutter fastened at its ends to the other bars, and having its gutter at its lower end communicating with that of one of such bars, substantially as and for the purpose described.

28. In alight-frame, in combination with the longitudinal supporting-bars provided with gutters, the transverse bar also provided with a gutter fastened to the supporting-bars and having its gutter in communication with one or both of the gutters of the other bars, substantially as and for the purpose described.

29. The transverse bar consisting of the interior gutter with its upper edges turned outward, and the concave bar embracingthe gutter and having its edges turned outward under the edges of the gutter and then over the same, and longitudinal elastic or semielastic material along the upper faces of the sides of the bar, substantially as and for. the

purpose described.

30.v In combination with the adjacent ends of the sections of glass, the clip consisting of the portion overlapping the edge of the lower section, the portion extending down between and below the sections, the upwardlybent portion, and the portion bent so as to extend under and in contact with the under side of the upper section, substantially as and for the purpose described.

31. The clip formed of sheet metal, having the portion adapted to overlap the upperedge of the lower section of glass, then bent downward to extend down between and below the sections, then upward, and then at a right angle, so as to engage the lower side of the upper glass section, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this th day of April, A. D. 1885.

BERNARD ovEnMAN.

Witnesses:

GEO. S. PRINDLE, PHILIP F. LARNER. 

